The relation between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and coronary artery disease severity and risk factors: an angiographic study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The current study aims to determine the relation between ankle–brachial
index (ABI) and angiographic findings and major cardiovascular risk factors in patients with
suspected coronary artery diseases (CAD) in Isfahan.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytic research, patients with suspected CAD
were studied. Characteristics of studied subjects including demographics, familial history, past
medical history and atherosclerotic risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension,
hyperlipidemia and smoking were obtained using a standard questionnaire. ABI was measured
in all studied patients. ABI ≤ 0.9 (ABI+) was considered as peripheral vessel disease and ABI >
0.9 (ABI-) was considered as normal. Then, all studied patients underwent coronary artery
angiography. The results of the questionnaire and angiographic findings were compared in ABI+
and ABI- groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15 using ANOVA, t-test, Spearman's rank
correlation coefficient, and discriminant analysis.
RESULTS: In this study, 125 patients were investigated. ABI ≤ 0.9 was seen in 25 patients (20%).
The prevalence of ABI+ among men and women was 25.9% and 7.5%, respectively (P = 0.01). The
prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors was significantly higher in ABI+ patients than in ABIones
(P < 0.05). ABI+ patients had more significant stenosis than ABI- ones. The mean of
occlusion was significantly higher in ABI+ patients with left main artery (LMA), right coronary
artery (RCA), left anterior descending artery (LAD), diagonal artery 1 (D1) and left circumflex
artery (LCX) involvements (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The findings of this research indicated that ABI could be a useful method in
assessing both the atherosclerotic risk factors and the degree of coronary involvements in
suspected patients. However, in order to make more accurate decisions for using this method in
diagnosing and preventing CAD, we should plan further studies in large sample sizes of general
population.
Keywords: Ankle–Brachial Index, Angiography, Atherosclerotic Risk Factors.